'Jail escapee calls in bomb threat' and more Chattanooga region news

Jail escapee calls in bomb threat

CULLMAN, Ala. - A man who escaped from an Alabama jail called in a bomb threat to divert the attention of police, prompting the evacuation of three hospitals, a sheriff said.

Cullman County Sheriff Mike Rainey said Jeremy Lewayne Lang was arrested Sunday night and is expected to be charged in the bomb threat Monday.

No injuries were reported in the evacuations of Cullman Medical Center and Marshall Medical Centers in Boaz and Guntersville.

Rainey said Lang escaped from the Arab City Jail on Sunday night, and someone placed the bomb threat call a short time later. In between, Rainey said, Lang made a call to his girlfriend.

"After he escapes from the Arab City Jail, he called his girlfriend in the Joplin community and told her he was going to kill her," Rainey said Monday. "We were waiting on him."

Lang apparently made the bomb threat in an effort to divert police attention, Rainey said.

Rainey said Lang will be charged in the bomb threat, but the exact charge was unclear. Lang already is charged with arson in Cullman County in a previous case, the sheriff said, and he was being held in Arab in another case.

Rainey said Lang is being held at the Cullman County Detention Center on $50,000 cash bond.

Two accused in broker scam

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - A father and son are accused of tricking an elderly Shelbyville man out of more than $60,000 by pretending to be investment brokers.

Shelbyville Police Detective Sgt. Brian Crews told the Shelbyville Times-Gazette the pair was knocking on doors asking to do odd jobs. When they realized that one man had a lot of money, they convinced him they were investment brokers.

Johnny Lovell Sr. and Johnny Lovell Jr., both of Lebanon, were arrested Friday in Shelbyville after trying to cash a check for $29,000 at a local bank. Bank officials contacted police after noticing unusually high activity in the checking account.

They are being held on $80,000 bond each. Jail officials did not know whether they had obtained attorneys.

Crews repair flood-hit trails

GATLINBURG, Tenn. - Great Smoky Mountains National Park crews are repairing trails that were damaged by flooding this winter.

In Tennessee, the popular Chimney Tops Trail has been closed since January when high waters destroyed the pedestrian bridge at the beginning of the trail.

Crews are working to replace the 70-foot long bridge and estimate the trail will reopen to weekend visitors by June 30. It will remain closed from Monday through Thursday until Oct. 17 for full rehabilitation.

In North Carolina, park crews are repairing a slide area along Noland Creek Trail. It will be closed to all hikers and horseback riders from April 22 to May 2 between the trailhead and backcountry campsite 64. Campsite 64 will remain open, but campsite 65 will be closed during the project.